Vol. 536 No. 2
92 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Defence if any approaches have been made by the representative associations regarding the provision of retirement homes for ex-members of the Defence Forces; if so, his response to such approaches; if he will consider providing funding for such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13801/01]
Approaches have not been made to me by the Defence Forces representative associations regarding the provision of retirement homes for ex-members of the Defence Forces. The provision of housing is a matter coming under the ambit of the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which has delegated this function to the various local authorities.
However, my Department is in communication with the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, ONE, regarding the potential purchase by it of a departmental property in Athlone for the purpose of providing accommodation for ex-servicemen and women.
In 1993, as Minister for the Environment, I was delighted to be in a position to provide a grant of £440,000 from the voluntary housing capital assistance scheme to ONE. The organisation used this funding to build a hostel for ex-servicemen and women at Queen Street, Dublin 7. This hostel, called Brú Na bhFianna, was officially opened by the President in September 1994.
